Model Weather

The Cornell NanoScale Facility hosts the 3rd Annual Junior First Lego League Expo Saturday, Jan. 31, at 1 p.m. in the Duffield Hall atrium. Teams of up to 6 children ages 6-9 will work with an adult mentor to explore, investigate, design and build a model about climate study from Lego bricks. Models include the Northeast Regional Climate Center at Cornell, including its weather instruments; a motorized device that measures snowfall; a helicopter that drops seedling pods to speed reforestation; and "The Climate Clones" from Owego, N.Y., made a model of the polar, desert, temperate and equatorial zones.

Noite Brasileira

A concert of Brazilian music chosen by Cornell ethnomusicologist Steven Pond will be held Saturday, Feb. 1, at 3 p.m. in Barnes Hall. Chicago-based Dois no Choro -- a flutist, guitarist and singer -- will play traditional and contemporary choro, samba, frevo and bossa nova. Also performing: Remeleixo, a guitar/saxophone duo from the Ithaca College faculty and Cornell's own samba group, Deixa Sambar. Free and open to the public.

Juilliard Quartet matinee

The Juilliard String Quartet (violinists Joel Smirnoff and Ronald Copes, violist Samuel Rhodes and cellist Joel Krosnick) brings a Franz Joseph Haydn anniversary program to Bailey Hall, Sunday, Feb. 8, at 3 p.m.: Haydn's Op. 20 "Sun" Quartets No. 4 in D Major, No. 3 in G Minor, No. 5 in F Minor and No. 2 in C Major. The quartet, formed six decades ago, is noted for its clarity of structure, beauty of sound and unanimity of purpose. Tickets ($22-$32; $16 for students): http://cornellconcertseries.com or call 607-273-4497. Free parking at Schoellkopf Field Garage.

Closing Guantánamo

Sarah E. Mendelson, director of the Human Rights and Security Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C., will speak Feb. 5 at 12:15 p.m. in G08 Uris Hall. President Barack Obama's recent executive order to close the military detention center at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, implements many of the recommendations of a report Mendelson wrote. She will discuss developments since the executive order was signed.

Galaxy quest

Cornell senior research associate in astronomy Dan Weedman presents "Evolution of the Most Luminous Galaxies in the Universe," Feb. 5 at 4:30 p.m. in 105 Space Sciences Building. He will discuss how the Cornell-led infrared spectrograph (IRS) on the Spitzer Space Telescope has accumulated hundreds of mid-infrared spectra of the most luminous galaxies in the universe. These starbursts or active galactic nuclei (AGN) have most of their luminosity emerging in the infrared because of heavy obscuration by dust. Using the IRS, the luminosities of these galaxies can be traced to 11.5 billion years ago with a single spectral indicator. Summary results from the IRS will be presented for these starbursts and AGN, showing how these luminosities have evolved in the universe, describing the dusty structure of the sources and estimating the epoch when the universe contained the most luminous, dusty galaxies. Free and open to the public.

Polly want a lecture?

The College of Veterinary Medicine presents a parrot behavior and training workshop Feb. 7 at 10 a.m. in the Veterinary Medicine Center, Room C2539. Presenter Barbara Heidenreich, author of "Good Bird! A Guide to Solving Behavior Problems in Companion Parrots" and "The Parrot Problem Solver: Finding Solutions to Aggressive Behavior," advocates positive reinforcement and careful observation of bird body language to produce well-behaved, interactive, entertaining companion parrots. Preregistration recommended. Fee: $50. Information: Lyn Netter, 607-253-3468, lcn4@cornell.edu.

Elegant Winter Party

Cornell Cinema's Fifth Annual Elegant Winter Party, Feb. 7 at 7:15 p.m., is a social event with hors d'oeuvres and desserts from Ithaca restaurants and caterers; a cash bar, live music, drawings for door prizes and a 9 p.m. screening of "Mantrap," starring "It Girl" Clara Bow. The sexy silent comedy, in a restored 35mm print from the Library of Congress, will be accompanied by pianist and silent film historian Philip Carli. Proceeds from the event will support Cornell Cinema's programming. Tickets are $50 each ($90 for a pair); $25 for students ($40 a pair), available starting Feb. 2, in 104 Willard Straight Hall or by calling 607-255-3522.